Cooling apparatus for furnace ports



Aug. 27,1946. E. w. POTTMEYER COOLING APPARATUS .FOR FURNACE PORTS Filed May 2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fo'warofllpoffmeyer' ATTORNEYS Aug. 27, 1946 w, POTTMEYER 4 2,406,399

' COOLING APPARATUS. FOR FURNACE PORTS Fil ed May 2; 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fowarolllpoffmeyer' M X W ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 27 1946 COOLING APPARATUS FOR FURNACE PORTS Edward W. Pottmeyer, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Blaw-Knox Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 2, 1945, Serial N .'5e1,619-

This invention relates to a furnace port cooler and, in particular, to a cooler for the port of a regenerative furnace such as the conventional open-hearth furnace.

It is an object of my invention to provide a port of the cooler to the outer end. I also provide a cooler having an outlet passage between the 'walls thereof with sufficient sectional area to provide a substantial flow even under the rather limited pressure head available in port coolers as usually constructed.

In a preferred embodiment, the port cooler of my invention comprises a water jacket of arch section having spaced inner and outer walls with 9 Claims. (01. 1.22-6.55

an outlet passage therebetween extending from adjacent the inner end of the cooler to the outer end, the passage having a generally rectangular section and a width several times its depth, and the depth being only approximately one-half the distance between the inner and outer walls. Conveniently, the passage is formed by achannel having its flanges welded to one of the walls, preferably the inner wall. The outlet pipe preferably has branches extending downwardly and laterally adjacent the inner end of the cooler to afiord good circulation adjacent the inner end of the cooler which, of course, is subjected to the highest temperature.

For a complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating the present preferred embodiment and the following detailed description. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my port cooler, partly broken away and partly in section, showing the outline of the brick work defining the port proper in chain lines;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the cooler;

Figure 3 is an end elevation such as would be seen by looking from the right in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken along the plane of line IV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a partial longitudinal section taken along the plane of line VV of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a partial section taken along the plane of line VI-V of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a partial section taken along the plane of line VII-VII of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a partial elevation of the discharge end of a flushing pipe; and

Figure 9 is an end view thereof.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the cooler of my invention comprises a water jacket IU of arch section including spaced inner and outer walls I l and 12, respectively. The cooler is fabricated from steel plate by welding. It is installed in a port I3 defined by brick walls adapted to deliver a mixture of preheated air and fuel to the combustion space within a furnace such as the ordinary open hearth furnace. The cooler has a shape conforming to the port, i. e.,'- it slopes downwardly toward it inner end. A reservoir in the form of a box l4 extends upwardly above the-outer end of the cooler and is adapted to be supplied with water from any convenient. source. The reservoir, of course, communicates with the space between the walls II and I2. A water level is maintained in thereservoir at approximately the upper edge of a partition 15. Excess water flows over the partition into an outlet'trough l6 having drain connections". 7

Anoutlet passage l8 extends from a point adjacent the inner end of the cooler tothe outer end thereof where it communicates with the trough IS. The passage I8 is preferably formed by a channel having its flanges welded to the. in-' ner wall ll. As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the channel extends along the ridge orhighest portion of the inner wall II. The passage [8 has a rectangular section and a width several times its depth. The depth, furthermore, is only approximately one-half the distance between the walls II and 12 so that it does not obstruct free fiowof water through the spacer-between the walls." A vent or surge pipe l9 extend upwardly from'the passage l8 through the reservoir I4 above the upper edge of-the. partition [5.

The passage l8 preferably has a number of branches 20, 2| and 22 extending laterally and downwardly from its inner end. These passages may conveniently be defined by channels welded to the inner wall of the jacket in the same manner as that forming the passage I8. The channels forming the branches 20 and 2|, as shown,

are curved to conform to the'a-rch shape of the cooler. The branches, like the main passage ill, have rectangular sections and a width several times their depth. Their depth, furthermore, is only about one-half the spacing between the walls II and I2. There is thus substantially no possibility of accumulation of scale or other sediment between the outer wall and the channels defining the passages, sumcient to interfer e- 3 riously with circulation of Water through the jacket.

The course of circulation through the cooler is downwardly from the reservoir I4 along the sides and top of the cooler toward the inner end thereof from which the water flows into the branches 20, 2! and 22 and thence through the main outlet passage -l'8'-to the outlet trough l6. Bafiies [8a in the trough [6 on opposite sides of the passage [8 insure that the latter is kept. filled to the extreme upper end.

Sludge, scale or other sediment'accumulating in the jacket falls freely to the bottom of the sides thereof which, have inwardly extending 1 flanges 23. Flushing pipes 24 extend into these flanges and are supported on brackets 25. Slots 26 at the inner ends. of .the pipes discharge jets of flushing water when the pipes are connected 1 to a suitable source thereof, whereby accumue 1' 1 lated sediment may be washed out through holes Hand 28 in the outer end of the cooler. These holes, of course, are closed by suitable plugs between successive flushings.

.It will be apparent from the foregoing explanation that the invention is characterized by numerous advantages over port coolers as previously constructed. In the first place, the shape and 1 disposition of the outlet passage and its branches;

1 as already indicated, are such that they do not facilitate the accumulation of sediment between them and the outer. wall: so as to interfere with circulation of the cooling water.

1 ment of the outlet passage and its branches,

1 furthermore, is also such as to create an im- 1 proved circulation of cooling water. This results partly fromthe thermo-siphon actioncaused'by the locationjof thepassage 18 at; the ridge of 1 the inner wall .and from its upward slop sediment formed in the COOleris free to fall to the'bottom of the sides'fromwhich it may be easily removed by periodic fiushing.- The en- 7 j trances for water returning through the outlet 1 passage i8, 1. e., the lower endsof the branches i 20, 2| and 22,';ar,e located closely' adjacent the inner end: of the cooler whichis subjected to the highest temperature. Atvthe same time, the

The arrange- I claim: I

l. A furnace port cooler comprising an elon gated Water jacket of arch section including spaced inner and outer walls, and means defining an outlet passage extending longitudinally of the cooler from adjacent the inner end thereof to the outer end, said passage being generally rectangularin section and having a depthapproximately one-half the distance between said walls.

2. A furnac port cooler comprising an elongated water jacket of arch section including spaced inner and outer walls, and a relatively wide flat outlet passage extending along the ridge of the inner wall from adjacent the inner end of the cooler to the outer end thereof. 3. The appa'ratus defined by claim 1 characterized by said passage having a plurality of branches extending therefrom.

4.,A furnace port cooler comprising an elongated water jacket of arch section including spaced inner and outer walls, and a relatively wide fiat outlet passage between said Walls from adjacent the inner end of the cooler to the outer 7 end thereof.

5. A furnace port cooler comprising an elon gated water jacket of arch section including spaced inner and outer walls, and means defining of them and extending from adjacent the inner 1 .sectional area. of .the outlet passage and its branches is sufficient to maintain the flow of a substantial volume of .water even under the relatively' low head available in the-reservoir. l4,

- It is to be noted that while the branches 20, 2| and 22 are desirable, they may not be necessary in all cases. On the other'hand, additional lat scope of the appended claims.

1.40 having a width several times its depth.

*7. The apparatusdefined by claim fijc'haracterized by branch channels extending from'said first-mentioned channel, said branch channels also having their flanges welded to one of said walls. L I

8. A furnace port cooler comprising an elongated w ater jacket of arch section including spaced inner and outer walls, andari inverted channel extending along the ridge of' the inner wall from -adjacent the inner end thereoffto the outer end, the flanges of the channelbeing welded eral branches from the main'outlet passage, l8 may be employed,'if.desired. These and other similar changes in the details of the. construction disclosed may, of course, be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the to the inner Wall whereby the channel defines an outlet passage. 7 V I 9. The apparatus'deflned by claim 8 characterized by branch channels 'extend ing'frornsaid first-mentioned channel, said branch channels also having their flanges welded to said" inner Wall.

EDWARD W. PQTTMEYER. 

